Trends in the molecular pathogenesis and clinical therapeutics of common neurodegenerative disorders

Int J Mol Sci. 2009 Jun 3;10(6):2510-2557. doi: 10.3390/ijms10062510.

Abstract

The term neurodegenerative disorders, encompasses a variety of underlying conditions, sporadic and/or familial and are characterized by the persistent loss of neuronal subtypes. These disorders can disrupt molecular pathways, synapses, neuronal subpopulations and local circuits in specific brain regions, as well as higher-order neural networks. Abnormal network activities may result in a vicious cycle, further impairing the integrity and functions of neurons and synapses, for example, through aberrant excitation or inhibition. The most common neurodegenerative disorders are Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Huntington's disease. The molecular features of these disorders have been extensively researched and various unique neurotherapeutic interventions have been developed. However, there is an enormous coercion to integrate the existing knowledge in order to intensify the reliability with which neurodegenerative disorders can be diagnosed and treated. The objective of this review article is therefore to assimilate these disorders' in terms of their neuropathology, neurogenetics, etiology, trends in pharmacological treatment, clinical management, and the use of innovative neurotherapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Huntingtin; Huntington’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; Tau; amyloid-β protein; drug delivery; neuropathology; neurotherapeutics; α-Synuclein.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cholinergic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Huntington Disease / drug therapy
  • Huntington Disease / metabolism
  • Huntington Disease / pathology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / drug therapy
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Cholinergic Antagonists
  • Dopamine Agents
  • HTT protein, human
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • tau Proteins